Renting a moving truck – all you should know

When we hear the word moving, we usually picture boxes or a truck. That’s because relocation is impossible without a proper vehicle and packing equipment. You’ll need to transport all of your belongings safely in as little trips as you possibly can. In addition to this, you’ll need to prepare for the ordeal of driving a moving truck, which is not an easy task. So, in order to help you, we’ve created an awesome guide of everything you’ll need when renting a moving truck.

Cost

If you’re going to rent a moving truck, you’ll need to prepare your moving budget very well, and provide sufficient funds for all of your costs before the move. The things which will affect the price of your rent are:

the size of the truck – the main this you should keep in mind when renting a moving truck is the size. Your items should fit snuggly in the truck and not have a lot of wiggle room. Also, your truck shouldn’t be too small to carry all of your belongings.

the distance of your move – this will affect the price of your truck as well. In addition, some companies will only rent you a truck for a local relocation.

equipment – you might need a special add-on for your bike or some additional equipment to help you move your items safely. This will also affect the cost of your rental moving truck.

fuel -while you’re driving it, you’re filling it up with gas. Also, your truck will come with a full tank, so the company will expect you to return it with a full tank as well.

additional services – any additional services you might need to help you move.

Calculate your budget well.

Pickup & drop off

Some moving companies will bring the vehicle to your driveway and retrieve it from your new location. However, these are the very rare ones. Most companies will give you a pickup location when you’re renting a moving truck. In addition to this, they’ll also expect you to return the truck to a drop off location once you’re done with it. These locations are usually the same, and that’s why most companies don’t rent a truck to people moving long distances unless they have a franchise in the city you’re moving to.

Driving a truck is hard…

There’s a reason you need a special license to drive some trucks. That’s because this is a genuinely difficult thing to do. If you’re not experienced with driving trucks, you might end up doing more damage than good. People consider renting a moving truck and driving it themselves is a good idea to save money. In most situations, this really is cheaper than hiring movers. However, it can cost you even more than hiring professional movers if you damage your items during the transportation.

Renting a moving truck may not be a good idea for a long distance relocation since you’ll have to drive it all the way. This can be very difficult for people who aren’t used to driving trucks. So, if you’re planning a move like this, make sure you read our long distance moving tips to assist you in your far away relocation.

…so you’ll want to get familiar with it…

Take the time before your moving day to drive your rental truck around. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the vehicle. This will come in handy when your actual move comes. When you get a little more comfortable, you can even decide to take it on a test run to your new home. This will not only give you an opportunity to get better at driving the vehicle, but it will also give you an excellent idea about what you’ll be in for on your moving day. Make sure you note all the tricky twists and turns and practice driving through them a few times.

Practice driving your rental truck before your moving day.

In addition to this, you’ll want to choose the best season for relocation if you’re driving a truck full of your belongings. Avoid seasons such as winter or fall when the roads are slippery and wet. Choose to move in the summer which has many other benefits besides dry roads.

… and get good insurance

Getting good insurance is crucial when you’re renting a moving truck. Unless you’re a really skilled truck driver it’s better to be safe than sorry. Spending a little money on this could potentially save you a lot of money if something goes wrong during your move. Naturally, most truck rental companies have their own insurance or offer additional insurance services. We strongly recommend that you spend the extra dollar on this!

Your insurance can help you avoid a lot of trouble.

Safety

Finally, you should keep in mind that saving a few bucks isn’t worth risking your safety. If you’re planning to drive a rental truck for the first time you should be well prepared. With inexperienced drivers, accidents tend to happen more often. In addition to this, you won’t be the only one on the road and other people can cause accidents you can get entangled in. While it’s great to hope for the best, you should also prepare for the worst. Always carry a first aid kit with you on your moving day, and it may be a good idea to learn the basics of CPR. This is a skill which is very useful and it could come in handy even after your relocation. Finally, when renting a moving truck you should have all the necessary documentation prepared. Your renting contract, driver’s license, and other crucial info.